[rye225]

don't relax your hair, embrace the afro and get it braided! thats what I do!

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by nneka!)
im guessing your hair is natural, trust me when i say DO NOT RELAX YOUR HAIR! If you want your hair straight you should get it pressed, it looks proper slick and since you live in london you can get it done for £15-25. The press lasts for time and even when you wash your hair for the first time after you press it, it's still not as afro as it was before. And if you want to straighten it yourself just get a good straigthener; blow dry your hair then straighten it after. However, relaxing your hair isnt that bad, but if you don't now how to care for it properly it will break off; thats what happened to me

and your mum is right about the dandruff thing; it happens to some people with sensitive scalps

(Original post by gooner1991)
I don't know whether to relax my hair or not..
Has anyone had any severe problems with relaxing their hair? My mum tries to scare me out of doing it by saying my hair will fall out and I'll get really bad dandruff etc.

Any advice?

Ok past few days, past week even I have been researching quite a lot into how people, especially those in the States how they look after their hair.

Ok im not going to deny it that relaxing is good for the hair because its not (even though I do mine every 6weeks), but I have come to realise that hair straighteners and hair dryers are not good for the hair either!

Been watching a girl on youtube talk about her hair techniques and advice and I have to say that they are bloomin good and have worked wonders on my hair already!

Gooner1991 - I would suggest that you do lots and lots of research and be prepared to look after your hair well if you do decide to relax.
Just from doing my own research that I have come to realise, what I was doing before was soo wrong, bad for my hair.

As for the dandruff, I was suffering badly with it because of the stupid crappy ''hair oil'' I was slapping into my scalp, ie Blue Magi Coconut Oil'' - those such oils contain crappy petrolatum which in fact don't keep the scalp moist. I have thrown out/given away all my hair stuff I had before and went out and bought lots of ORS (Organic Roots Stimulator) products and they are lovely - I have already seen a difference in my hair.

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

[rye225]

On a side note, i took my hair out of braids today and blowdried it.

The afro is now quite impressive and I admire it.
Seriously, I'm breaking down walls with my afro.

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by rye225)
On a side note, i took my hair out of braids today and blowdried it.

The afro is now quite impressive and I admire it.
Seriously, I'm breaking down walls with my afro.

How often do you blow dry your hair? . . .

[rye225]

(Original post by DancinBallerina)
How often do you blow dry your hair? . . .

Twice maybe three times a week. Normally i just wash it and have that natural look lol. Then again my hair is in braids almost 24/7.

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by rye225)
Twice maybe three times a week. Normally i just wash it and have that natural look lol. Then again my hair is in braids almost 24/7.

Oooooo okey dokey

[rye225]

(Original post by DancinBallerina)
Oooooo okey dokey

Good/Bad?

Should men press their hair?

[BeesKnees]

(Original post by DancinBallerina)
Been watching a girl on youtube talk about her hair techniques and advice and I have to say that they are bloomin good and have worked wonders on my hair already!

Omg i'm so happy this thread exists! I have no one to talk to about afro hair . I have pretty long hair (past the shoulders) but it's really thick and a pain in the arse to look after . It looks so lovely and pretty when I relax it but a couple of weeks later it's just gross. To make it worse, I have psoriasis which mainly affects my scalp, which again is a nightmare. I didn't know about the petroleum crap being an issue so i'm going to try to get the organic roots simulator. I don't like moisturising my scalp because I hate greasy skin but when i'm at home my mum does it for me (I must admit though i'm really bad at looking after my hair and when i'm away from home I maybe oil my hair like once a month not good), I don't know how I even have passable hair sometimes.

I'd also never heard about keracare, which I'll also buy. I was also going to buy that pink lotion which I used to use years ago but I just read on this thread that it's rubbish coz it's oil based? (if i read that correctly)... Is that true? I'm really the worst black person when it comes to hair care and need all the help I can get! lol

Oh and the reason I quoted you is to ask if you can please tell me who the girl is so I can watch her vids?

[rye225]

(Original post by BeesKnees)
Omg i'm so happy this thread exists! I have no one to talk to about afro hair . I have pretty long hair (past the shoulders) but it's really thick and a pain in the arse to look after . It looks so lovely and pretty when I relax it but a couple of weeks later it's just gross. To make it worse, I have psoriasis which mainly affects my scalp, which again is a nightmare. I didn't know about the petroleum crap being an issue so i'm going to try to get the organic roots simulator. I don't like moisturising my scalp because I hate greasy skin but when i'm at home my mum does it for me (I must admit though i'm really bad at looking after my hair and when i'm away from home I maybe oil my hair like once a month not good), I don't know how I even have passable hair sometimes.

I'd also never heard about keracare, which I'll also buy. I was also going to buy that pink lotion which I used to use years ago but I just read on this thread that it's rubbish coz it's oil based? (if i read that correctly)... Is that true? I'm really the worst black person when it comes to hair care and need all the help I can get! lol

Oh and the reason I quoted you is to ask if you can please tell me who the girl is so I can watch her vids?

Ladypknyc is good, she helped me with 2 strand twists

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by BeesKnees)
Omg i'm so happy this thread exists! I have no one to talk to about afro hair . I have pretty long hair (past the shoulders) but it's really thick and a pain in the arse to look after . It looks so lovely and pretty when I relax it but a couple of weeks later it's just gross. To make it worse, I have psoriasis which mainly affects my scalp, which again is a nightmare. I didn't know about the petroleum crap being an issue so i'm going to try to get the organic roots simulator. I don't like moisturising my scalp because I hate greasy skin but when i'm at home my mum does it for me (I must admit though i'm really bad at looking after my hair and when i'm away from home I maybe oil my hair like once a month not good), I don't know how I even have passable hair sometimes.

I'd also never heard about keracare, which I'll also buy. I was also going to buy that pink lotion which I used to use years ago but I just read on this thread that it's rubbish coz it's oil based? (if i read that correctly)... Is that true? I'm really the worst black person when it comes to hair care and need all the help I can get! lol

Oh and the reason I quoted you is to ask if you can please tell me who the girl is so I can watch her vids?

Hey, welcome to the thread. I hope you find it just as useful as myself and many others.

Yea that petrolatum thing I didn't know either until like 2weeks ago, I literally threw all my stuff away or donated them. I went into my local town and spent £20 on new hair stuff which isn't bad and I used them straight away . . and my god, such a huge difference in just one wash! I plan on doing a deep condition either tomorrow or Weds.

I haven't tried that Kercare stuff before, but I have heard that its bloomin good, a tad pricey but it does the job. As for that pink oil, my mum use to slap that stuff on my hair all the time when I was kid and tbh I cant stand it now and I have heard that its not good for the hair either, again it clogs the hair pores or something like that, not allowing the roots to get moisture and etc (I think that is what I have understood it to be?) . . . . I just find it thick and horrible and URGH, not my cuppa T. Definately give ORS a try, I love it already even though I have other products on order, ie Elasta QP Mango Butter moisturiser for my ends, which are suffering (due to neglect ).
As for not liking to oil your scalp, you should try the ORS Olive oil, you dont need a lot - just damb a lil into the scalp as you would do normally and then massage the head.

Its just basically trial and error with the hair products tbh!!

The girl who I have been watching on youtube is Lorraine Tips - her hair is sooo nice and her regimen is crazy but you can definately see its worked and is soooo worth it.

You just have to be well prepared to look after your hair to see the results and im definately on that bandwagon.

EDIT: This is the forum I have been going on to get tips and etc. Lovely ladies on there who are v v helpful.

Also just do your own general research on good ol google

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by rye225)
Good/Bad?

Should men press their hair?

I was reading that heat in general is bad for the hair, especially pressing as the heat is basically taking out the oils - hence why frizzy/split ends occur!

All of what I have been reading the past few days/week, im going to take on board and see how much my hair improves. Already from my new hair products which I used once, I have noticed a big change already.

I was just wondering - do any of the ladies on here wrap their hair before going to bed? . .

[BeesKnees]

(Original post by DancinBallerina)
I was reading that heat in general is bad for the hair, especially pressing as the heat is basically taking out the oils - hence why frizzy/split ends occur!

All of what I have been reading the past few days/week, im going to take on board and see how much my hair improves. Already from my new hair products which I used once, I have noticed a big change already.

I was just wondering - do any of the ladies on here wrap their hair before going to bed? . .

I do sometimes but usually too lazy. My hair is always great in the morning if I wrap it though and i'm going to try to make it part of my routine. Been watching that girl's videos since you posted and they're so good! So many good tips and I'll definitely be getting myself some keracare. My hair is about her length but I just don't look after it as well as she does because I don't know how to so it really helps to be able to get tips from someone with the same length/texture hair. The roller setting looks difficult but I guess all it takes is practice.

I was also wondering if anyone uses stuff like herbal essences? Is it any good? I've never used it but like the smell and would like to try it, say after using keracare, just to mask that fried hair smell you get after relaxing hair, which I hate

Oh and i'm going to get my hair relaxed next week so will be trying that pre-poo malarky in a couple of weeks and will let you know how that goes hehe.

[DancinBallerina]

(Original post by BeesKnees)
I do sometimes but usually too lazy. My hair is always great in the morning if I wrap it though and i'm going to try to make it part of my routine. Been watching that girl's videos since you posted and they're so good! So many good tips and I'll definitely be getting myself some keracare. My hair is about her length but I just don't look after it as well as she does because I don't know how to so it really helps to be able to get tips from someone with the same length/texture hair. The roller setting looks difficult but I guess all it takes is practice.

I was also wondering if anyone uses stuff like herbal essences? Is it any good? I've never used it but like the smell and would like to try it, say after using keracare, just to mask that fried hair smell you get after relaxing hair, which I hate

Oh and i'm going to get my hair relaxed next week so will be trying that pre-poo malarky in a couple of weeks and will let you know how that goes hehe.

Im sooo jealous now that your hair too is the same length as that lady lol, my hair has kinda stopped at shoulder length and won't budge no further. If my hairdressers see too much growth, they get scissor happy! So its just stopping at the same place when my ideal length now is to get to the same length as yourself and that lady.

I used herbal essence once and it was lush, but I haven't used it again as I think it made my hair too dry, stripped the hair of its oils.
When you get it relaxed, try asking your hairdresser to use a hair oil which doesnt have that petrolatum stuff in it, but a hair oil that smells nice and doesn't leave too much oil, to try and hide that eggy smell (I know what you mean, smells gross) - its what I plan on doing next week too when I go to get my roots done if they need it, just dreading though if my hairdressers get feisty or rude with me for wanting a different routine to what they have been doing before!! . . . o well!

The roller setting looks v v good, however my rollers aren't big enough and it looks really hard, but i will buy some big rollers and give it a bash - no harm in trying I guess lol.

Random but what hair combs/brushes do you use? again from that lady's videos she gave good tips on what brushes/combs to use and etc, again looks like im going to be donating more hair things to family lol . . .

And tonight is the first time I have wrapped my hair and it feels quite nice, my mum immediately said ''what have you put in it to make it stay?'' I said nothing, she was like lol . . .

Anyway do come back and have a banter on the thread about anything you wish, its nice to hear from other people who have the same kinda hair and are in the same boat and etc -im off to the land of nod, night

[rye225]

Do u guys use relaxer with lye, ive heard it can be very damaging to the hair.

[La Trampa]

lye is bad so I use no-lye ones. e.g. organic roots stimulator's.

[rye225]

(Original post by La Trampa)
lye is bad so I use no-lye ones. e.g. organic roots stimulator's.

Ok, I use organic root stimulators products as well!!!, olive oil spray normally, keeps my braids fresh.

I would never relax my hair lol, i would look wierd as a guy and i heard its really bad for the hair, lye or no-lye. Then again i can just wear the afro out whereas i suppose girls can't lol, so u guys have to relax it to keep it maintained.

Why not just braid though? Braiding can look professional

[La Trampa]

it's expensive, you need to keep doing it and i can't fork out £80 or so quid every 2 months, plus i get tired of them and they give me dandruff after a while, so i just leave my hair be and straighten it with my ghds once in a while (Without washing,my hair can stay fairly straight for 2-3weeks,but i never keep it for more than 2 week).

[rye225]

(Original post by La Trampa)
it's expensive, you need to keep doing it and i can't fork out £80 or so quid every 2 months, plus i get tired of them and they give me dandruff after a while, so i just leave my hair be and straighten it with my ghds once in a while (Without washing,my hair can stay fairly straight for 2-3weeks,but i never keep it for more than 2 week).

Ok, fair enough, i agree braiding can be quite expensive!
so do you never go to a hairdressers then, just DIY?

[La Trampa]

i never go to a hairdressers because a) i don't know of a good one near me b) I'm lazy c) I don't want to go somewhere and they'll mess up my hair.
the only time i go is when i'm abroad visiting family or when i see my aunt in leeds and she either braids my hair (she's not a hairdresser though) or when she takes me to where she does my hair..last time i was there was ages ago though...like more than a year ago and it was just to relax and dye my hair copper brown.

I mostly DIY but my routine is pretty simple - wash, dry, straighten. my friend helps me relax my hair once in 3 months or so, but that's it.

[Rokit]

(Original post by rye225)
Good/Bad?

Should men press their hair?

I bet your afro looks nice but dont press your hair it would look flat